Refrigerator cabinet



May 16, 1944. D. E. HEATH 2,348,812'

REFHIGERATOR CABINET mea May 1e. 1940 lli-:

INVEN o u =WWWW1 @ATTORNEY Patented May 16,1944

aEFmGEaATon CABINET Dudley E. Heath, New York, N. Y., assignor to.

Servei, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 16, 1940, Serial No. 335,450

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to refrigerators,

and more particularly to trim strip constructions Afor refrigerator cabinets.

In certain types of refrigerator cabinets having inner and outer liners -or panels, it is customary to frame a border trim or breaker strip over the gap .between the opposed edges of said liners or panels, to trim said gap, and to heat insulate the inner liner or panel from the outer one.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved trim strip construction,

which lends itself to easy and expeditious assembly.

Another object is to provide a new and improved trim strip construction, in which the trim strips can be rmly secured in position without the use of any tools, and by a simple assembling manipulation.

Another object is to provide a new and improved trim strip construction, having trim strips securely held in assembled position by concealed fastening means.

Another object is to provide concealed latch means for securely fastening trim strips in assembled position.

Various other objects of the invention will be .apparent from the following particularl description, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a refrigerator box, shown with a trim stripassem- I bly embodying the present invention, portions of the strips being broken away to reveal the construction behind said strips, y

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a perspective of one of the cross trim strips embodying the present invention,

Fig. 4 is a diagonal section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1, and showing the corner trim strip latched in assembled position,

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections similar to that of "Fig, 4, but showing successive preliminary steps respectively in the assembling of the corner trim strip,

Figs. 7 and 8 are sections taken on lines 1 1 and 8 8 respectively of Fig. 4,

gig. 9 is a perspective of a corner trim strip, an

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a corner block, shown in conjunction with a latch device for supporting a corner trim strip.

'I'he trim or breaker strip construction cf the present invention is shown in Fig. 1 applied to a refrigerator box I0 of the household type, al-

though as far as certain aspects of the invention are concerned, it may be applied to any other type of refrigerator; and may be applied to the refrigerator door ina manner to be made apparent. This refrigerator box I0, which is shown without the usual door for the purpose of simplification, comprises an inner liner I I and an outer liner I2, interspaced with suitable heat insulating material I3, and terminating at their front opposed edges around the doorway I4 with inwardly extending anges I5 and I6 respectively. These iianges I5 and I6 are shown extending in the front plane of the box I0 for full or square front trim strip construction, although as far as certain aspects of the invention are concerned, these flanges maybe inclined with respect to said plane for splay doorway construction.

The breaker or trim strip construction of the present invention is framed around the doorway I4 on the front face of the refrigerator box I0, and extends between and against the flanges I5 and I6 to cover the gap therebetween, and to heat insulate the inner liner from the outer liner I2. This trip strip construction includes upperand lower cross strips or sections I1, upright side or jamb strips or sections I8, and corner strips or members 2|) between said cross strips and said side strips. These strips are desirably made of heat insulating material such as plastic, and are wide enough to substantially cover the anges I5 and i6. The ends o f the strips I1 and I8 have triangular ends I9, and the sides of the corner strips 20 are correspondingly recessed on their sides for intertting edgewlse engagement with said triangular ends as will be vmore fully described.

For seeming the upper or lintel cross strip I1 in position, said strip is provided on the rear side thereof with a tenon or tongue 2|, shown in the form of a reinforcing rib, desirably extending substantially the full length of said strip. This rib 2| slants rearwardly and downwardly, and

tween the inner and outer liners |I and I2y and against the flanges I5 and I6, desirably by means 0f screws 24 passing through said anges.

With this construction, the upper cross strip il can be mounted in position by the mere operation of moving said strip obliquely inwardly4 towards the doorway It as indicated in Fig. 2, to slip the rib 2l into the groove 22 of the block 23 and into the grooves 29 in the cornerblocks 26 to be described, and can only be removed from assembled position by'a reverse oblique movement away from said doorway.

The lower cross or sill strip IT is similar in construction to the upper one, vexcept that its rib 2i slans obliquely rearwardly and upwardly, and its corresponding blocks 23 and 26 have their grooves 22 and 29 extending in a similar direction.

The side or jamb strips I8 are provided with inclined rear tongues or ribs 2Ia, extending in corresponding grooves respectively of blocks 23a and 2S in a manner similar to that already described with reference to the construction of the cross strips Il, and are similarly assembledby mere inclined movement of said side strips inwardly towards the doorway Il. Two or more of these blocks 23a may be provided for each side strip I8 according to the length of this'strip.

With this construction comprising the tongues 2i on each of the trim strip sections Il and I8 and the grooves 29 in the refrigerator cabinet. constituting interlocking detents inclined at an angle to the plane of the sections, the sections are supported at three spaced points so that these strip sections will be eectively held against warping.

'I'he corner strips 20 are latched into mounted position, and lock the cross strips I1 and the side strips ,Y it against removal in a manner to be described. For securing each of these corner trim strips 2@ in position, there is-provided the corner block 26, which is made of angular form as shown in Figs. l and 10 to conform with the anguiar construction of the corners between the inner and outer liners II and I2, and which is rmly retained in position between these liners and against the flanges I5 and I8 by any suitable means as for instance by screws 21 passing through said flanges. .This block 26 maybe made of plastic or other suitable material. and is provided with a miter groove 28 for the reception of a latch 3o therein, and with thel slanting grooves 29 at the ends thereof to receive the ribs 2l and 2in as already described. The latch 3@ comprises a bell crank lever having an arm 3i, which is shown weighted for gravitational suspension, and an arm 32, which is desirably in the form of a leaf spring, and which serves as a latch bolt in a manner to be described. This bell crank lever is supported on a pivot pin 33, Joux-nailed in aligned slots 3l, formed in the block 2B on opposite sides of the miter groove 28. In order to retain the pivot pin 83 against displacement in the bearing slots 34, T members. may' be provided, with their stems extending in said slots 84 respectively, and theiry flanges seated against the front face of the block 28, and secured thereto by screws or the like.

The bell crank 3B may be formed from a single strip of spring metal, withthe intermediate portion bent to form a hub for the reception of the pivot pin 33. If the lever arm 3| is not long enough to overbaiance the lever ann 32, it may be weightedby spot welding or otherwise securing a weight 2l thereto.

The corner trim strip 20 is formed as shown inl Figa 1 and 9 with a substantially triangular crown or 'wing section I0, and a shank section 4I of reduced width, extending therefrom and tapering towards its inner end. The outer angular edge i2 -of the wing section 40 conforms with the outer angular contour of the front face of the box l0 for continuity with the outer longitudinal edges of the adjoining trim strips I'l and I8, and the shank section 4I extends diagonally to form the miter piece between said strips. 'I'he inner edge '33 of this shank section Il is curved to effect cornering continuity with the inner longitudinal edges of the adjoining strips II and I8.

The base edges 44 of the wing section of the corner strip 20cm opposite sides of the shank 4I extend transversely at about right angles with respect to the miter axis of said strip, and the outer corners 5 of the trim strips I1 and I8 are correspondingly bevelled for edgewise conforming engagement of said strips l1 and I8 with said corner strip as shown in Fig. l. With this construction, when the corner strip 20 is locked in position, the wing edges' 44 thereof will form stops or abutment shoulders preventing oblique removal of the strips Il and I8 from assembled position shown.

Formed on the inner face of the wing section su of the corner strip 20 is a projection 4B, presenting a shoulder 41 for conforming engagement with the inner angular edge of the liner flange i6. Also on the inner face of the trim strip 26 along a section of its shank 4I is a latch keeper 58, shown in the form of a tubular proiection of rectangular conguration, and having a width slightly smaller than that of the miter groove 28 of the block 28, so that said keeper will extend freely in said groove. This latch keeper d8 is provided with a socket or hole l., desirably of rectangular cross-section for receiving the latch bolt 32. The latch bolt 32 is pressed against the bottom wall of the keeper Il bymeans vof a tail piece extension 5I on said wall, acting against the lever arm BI, as will be described.

For mounting the corner strips 20 position,

the box ill will be supported horizontally on its back, so that the bell crank lever 2 6 will be in the position shown in Fig. 6, with its weighted 'arm 3l extending vertically downwardly. After the trim strips I1 and I8 are mounted in position by oblique movement thereof as already described, each corner strip 20 is lowered to slide its latch keeper projection I8 into the miter groove 28 of the corresponding corner block 20, as shown in Fig. 5. If the bolt lever arm 32 is so long that the tall piece ll of the will not .clear it, then the pivotal mounting of said arm will permit it to be trippedvout of rthe way against the vgravity action of the other level arm 3l as said keeper is lowered into its respective groove 2B, and when said tail piece passes below said -bolt arm I2. the bell crank 30 will angularly gravitate inw the position shown in Fig. 6. In this position of the bell crank Il, the bolt arm 32 will be opposite The corner trim strip 2l is then moved from the position -show'n in towards the doorway 32 into the keeper hole piece 5I against the lever arm onal movement of the corner trim strip. 20 is continued, the pressure of the tail piece II against the lever arm 3l will swing the bell crank Il clockwiseV to bring the bolt arm .32 into bearing engagement against thebottom w all ofthe keeper I8. Upon further diagonal movement of the corner strip '22. the shoulder l1 will clear the edge of the liner flange I4, to extend the bolt I0, and to bear the'tsil keeper Il Il. and said strip will y refrigerator cabinet `snap downwardly into locked position shown in Fig. 4 by the spring action of the bolt arm 32. In this locked position, the tail piece 5I bears against the levei` arm 3|, and the reaction of said arm urges the corner trim strip towards the right (Fig. 4), so that the shoulder Il presses against the edge of the liner flange i6. At the same time, the bell crank is urged clockwise by the bearing action of the tail piece 5I to press the bolt arm 32 downwardly against the bottom wall of the keeper I8, so that the corner strip 20 is firmly held' in position against the liner flanges I5 and IB.

, In locked position of the cornerl trim strip 20. its wing edges M butt against the corresponding bevel edges of the adjoining strips l1 and i8, and since the contacting planes of these edges are at right angles to the face plane of the strips, these adjoining strips are effectively locked against removal.

Although the bell crank levers 30 are shown weighted for assembly of the trim strips while the box l0 is supported horizontally on its back,

this is not necessary as far as certain aspects of the invention are concerned. For instance. the

' can also be applied to the door of the refrigeratorcabinet. The usual refrigerator door is formedA with an outer panel or liner and an inner panel or liner. the present invention can be framed over the inner side of the door to coverthe gap between The trim strip construction of 1 the panels, and to heat insulate the inner panel .from the outer one. It must therefore-be understood that in the following claims reference lto either the refrigerator box or the door thereof.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims. it is intended that al1 matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as` illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a refrigerator cabinet compris'ng inner and outer liners with a gap therebetween, a breaker strip having a section overlyingthe gap between the inner and outer liners and members abutting the ends of the section, said section and cabinet having interlocking detents inclined at an angle -to the plane of said section and engaged by relative sliding movement therebetween in a prede-A termined path of movement in one direction, the abutting edges of the section and end members being provided with interlocking portions having surfaces extending transversely across said path of movement to prevent sliding of the section out of operative position, and means for positively connecting the end members to the cabinet in position to abut the ends of the section whereby to positively lock the section in place on the cabinet.

2. In a refrigerator cabinet comprising inner and outer liners with a gap therebetween, a breaker strip having a plurality of side sections and corner members between and abutting the ends of is intended to includev the side sections to provide a continuous strip overlying the gap between the inner and outer liners, each of said side sections and the cabinet having interlocking detents inclined at an angle to the plane of the section and engaged by relative sliding movement therebetween in a predetermined path of movement in one direction, the abutting edges of said side sections and corner members being provided with interlocking portions having surfaces extending transversely across said paths of movement to prevent sliding of the sections out of operative position, and means for connecting the corner members to the cabinet in position to abut the ends of the sections whereby to positively lock the side sections in place on the cabinet.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet` comprising inner and outer liners with a gap therebetween, spacing membersl extending across the gap between thel liners, a breaker strip having lintel, sill and side -f sections and corner members between and abutting the ends of the sections to provide a continuous strip overlying the gap between the inner and outer liners, rails on said sections extending rearwardly at an acute angle to the plane of the sections, said spacing members in the cabinet having grooves into which the rails on said sections extend, said grooves in the spacing members being of substantially the same width and extending at the same angle as the rails to snugly' engage the sides of therails inserted therein, when the sections are in operative position, by sliding of the sections obliquely in one direction with respect' to the cabinet along a predetermined path, the abutting edges of the sections and corner members being provided with interlocking portions having and outer liners with a. gap therebetween, .break-v x er strip having a section overlying the gap between the inner and outer liners and end members abutting the ends of the section, detents on the cabinet and section'engaged by relative sliding movement of the cabinet and section in a predetermined path of movement in one direction, the abutting edges of the section and end members being provided with interlocking portions having surfaces extending transversely across said path of movement to prevent sliding of the section out of operative position, and interlocking means on the end members and cabinet engageable by relative sliding movementl therebetween to position the end members in abutting engagement with the ends of the section whereby to lock the section and end members in position on the cabinet.

5. In a refrigeratorl cabinet comprising inner and outer liners with a. gap therebetween, a breaker strip having a plurality of sectionsA and corner members between and abutting the ends of the sections to provide a continuous strip overlying thel gap between the inner and outer liners, each of said sections and the cabinet having interlocklng detents inclined at an angle to the plane of the section and engaged by relative sliding movement therebetween in a predetermined path-of movement in one direction, the abutting edges of the sections and corner members being provided with interlocking portions having surfaces extending transversely across the paths of movement to prevent sliding of the sections out of operative position, interlocking shoulders on. the corner members and cabinet to hold the corner members from lateral movement. land resilient interiocking means on the corner members and cabinet for yieidingly holding the corner members against vertical movement whereby the corner members are held in position on the cabinet by the interlocking shoulders and the sections are locked in position on the cabinet by the interlocking detenta and corner members.

6. In a refrigerator cabinet comprising inner and outer liners with a gap therebetween, spacing members extending across the gap between the liners, a breaker strip having a plurality of sections and-corner members between and abutting the'ends of the sections to provide a continuous strip overlying the gap between the inner and outer liners, said sections and spacing members having interlocking detents inclined at an acute angle to the plane of the sections and engaged by relative sliding movement therebetween in s. predetermined path oi movement in one direction, the abutting ends of each of the sections and corner members being provided with interlocking portions having surfaces extending transversely across the path of movement o! the section in the opposite direction to prevent movement of the section out o! operative position, interlocking shoulders on the corner members and cabinet engageabie upon movement normal to the plane of themembers, a latch keeper extending rearwardly from each corner member, and resilient latches on the cabinet engaged with the keepers on the end members to yieldingly hold the interlocking shoulders on the members and cabinet in engagement, said latches being engaged with the keepers by a combined lateral and vertical sliding move, ment of the corner members into abutting engagement with the ends of adjacent sections whereby the corner members and sections are locked in 20 position on the cabinet by sliding the comermembers into position between the ends of the sections.

DUDLEY E. HEATH. 

